Paramedics across East Anglia report facing abuse at work every day
New data shows, across the country, at least 55 ambulance staff are abused or attacked every day
Last updated 8th Jan 2025
We're hearing how ambulance workers across East Anglia are facing abuse whilst doing their jobs every day.
It comes after new data from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) revealed there were almost twelve thousand (11,817) reported incidents of violence, aggression and abuse against ambulance staff in the UK in the six months to September last year.
AACE is also warning UK ambulance services are on course to report the highest-ever rate of violent, aggressive and abusive incidents against their staff.
It says at least 55 ambulance staff every day are abused or attacked - with incidents including kicking, head-butting, spitting, verbal abuse, sexual assault and serious attacks involving weapons.
"It is something that happens on a daily basis, right across the country"
We spoke to Ali Livingstone, the health safety and security specialist working for East of England Ambulance Service.
He told us that everyone he knows in the service has their own story of facing abuse: "They've been racially abused, they've been touched inappropriately, all these things and people may find it really quite hard to believe that that happens and that goes on, but it does.
"And certainly from my time working with people operationally, it is something that happens unfortunately on a daily basis, right across the country."
"It makes staff sometimes question whether it's actually the job they want to do"
We asked Ali about the effect this has on the staff: "The human factor is something that we don't underestimate.
"It makes staff feel very nervous. It makes staff sometimes question whether it's actually the job they want to do.
"It is something that we take really seriously. The impact that it has is certainly quite significant.
"...We want to retain the best possible clinicians we can. Our staff are incredibly well trained and they dedicate themselves to learning and developing their skills.
"And the last thing we would want is for them to consider moving away from the ambulance service as a result.
"So it's something we're cognizant of and we wouldn't want anything to come in the way of the treatment that they're providing for people."
Ali then explained that they do provide provide any help to ambulance workers who have experienced abuse. but they're also working on other things they can do to provide better support to their members:
"We do everything we can to support staff, they receive training and we're about to provide an enhanced training package in relation to safety.
"We're making body-worn cameras more available - not necessarily because we think it will prevent the incident from taking place, but it's more likely to result in prosecution and they're (the victim) less likely have to to have to attend court."
He also explained that staff are encouraged to leave an incident should they be subjected to abuse.
Call for change
AACE also estimates more than 5,000 incidents will be reported over the winter months of December, January and February.
More than 2,000 are expected from December 2024 alone, it said.
According to the organisation, alcohol plays a major part in assaults against ambulance staff, followed by drugs and people in mental health crises.
Jason Killens, AACE chair and chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, added:
"This unacceptable behaviour has a major long-term impact on the health and wellbeing of ambulance people who are simply trying to do their jobs and help save lives.
"This is why we are making a plea to the public to ensure that our staff are treated with the respect they deserve, especially during the busy festive period.
"We are also asking the judiciary to use their full powers under the Assaults on Emergency Workers Offences Act 2018 legislation to ensure appropriate sentences are handed out consistently to those found guilty of committing these crimes against our workforce."
Ambulance services have put a number of measures in place to try and deter abusive or violent behaviour, including body cameras for staff being piloted.
Violence prevention teams have also been established within each NHS ambulance service.